Interesting Facts: Born in N.Y.C., Florian was the son of an artist. He grew up watching his father
paint landscapes in Cape Cod and Long Island. He credits his love for nature to these early years. Before he became a children's
writer, he was a cartoonist. One day, he picked up a children's poetry book at a flea market, and he decided to write some
poems of his own. This began his successful career!

Poetry Break # 9: A Favorite Poem by Douglas
Florian

Introduction:
Ask students to raise their hands if they have ever seen dogs wearing clothes. Invite a few children to describe the clothes.
Next, ask if studentshave ever wondered what other animals would look like wearing
clothes.

Extension: a) Break students
into groups, and ask them to illustrate different parts of the poem. Post the illustrations and read the poem as a class.
b) Ask students to extend the poem by thinking of other animals and what clothes they might wear. Ask students to put their
answers in a rhyme. For example, I'd love to see a butterfly...Wear
a jacket and a tie. c) Pair this poem with Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing
by Judi Barrett. Ask several students to debate the two sides: Should animals wear clothing, or should they stay the way they
are because they will look foolish in clothes (as suggested by Barrett).